Facing-machine.



B. BOLT.

FACING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, 1911.

1,009,905, Patented Nov.28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

TTOH/VEYS B. HOLT.

FAGING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAILIB, 1911.

COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH cn.,wASHlNuToN. u, C.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN HOLT, OF ALBION, NEW YORK.

FACING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN I-IOLT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Albien, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, haveinvented a new and Improved F acing-Machine, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices or means utilized inpacking apples and similar fruit in barrels, or other large receptaclesof the conventional forms.

In the present method of packing apples and like fruit for shipping thefruit is so packed that when the barrel head is opened an even layer orfacing of selected apples, uniformly arranged with their stems pointingupward is in View, presenting the most attractive appearance possible.In the method referred to the operator technically called the facerpours into the barrel, out of a half bushel basket, about enough to formone layer of apples over the bottom of the barrel, and then, commencingnext to the side, he places the apples, stems down, going all around thebarrel, in two or more circles, until the facing or first complete layeris finished. Since the operator to handle the apples as stated, mustreach far down into Vthe barrel and frequently inserts his head into thebarrel, to enable him to properly place the apples, such operation isuncomfortable, tiresome and can only be slowly done.

The object of my invention is to overcome the inconvenience anddifficulties incident in the present method of facing apples in a barreland to render the operation simple, one of ease, in which the facingdevices can be readily adjusted to suitapples of dif ferent sizes, andby which the operation of facing is quickly accomplished and the bestpresentation of the fruit is had when the head of the barrel is opened.

l/Vith other objects in view, that will hereinafter appear, my inventionconsists in the peculiar construction and novel ar rangement of parts,all of which will be hereinafter explained, specifically pointed out inthe appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of my invention, the parts being in aposition for facing the apples, portions thereof being in section to thebetter illustrate the same.

the facing means, the apple bed or table be- Speeeation of LettersPatent.

Application led March 13, 1911.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

Serial 1\To.,613,979.l

ing shown at its outer or spring projected position, the apples being ofa size to project above the head receiving groove of the barrel. Fig. 3,is a similar view that illustrates how the facing row of apples are heldpacked after the head at the facing end has been pressed into place.Fig. 4, shows the faced end of the barrel and the facing devicesinverted, the manner of withdrawing the said devices being indicated indotted lines. Fig. 5, is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 on Fig. 1to indicate the locking devices for holding the facer devices iixedlywithin the barrel. Fig. 6, is an enlarged section of the tubularstandard hereinafter referred to.

In the practical application of my invention, the several operativeparts are so designed and coperatively arranged, that they easilyoperate within the ordinary size of barrels in which apples and the likeare usually shipped, and my said invention comprises a base 1 upon whichthe barrel 2 is set during the operation of facing the apples, and forfirmly holding the barrel thereon, the said base has a plurality ofbrackets 10 each of which has a horizontal iiange for engaging with theinside of the barrel and for conveniently clamping the barrel on thesaid brackets an adjustable bracket 10 is provided with a cam edge 20for engaging the barrel, the said bracketbeing pivotally connected tothe base 1 as at E20ZL and equipped with a pendent stud 12 that passesthrough a slot 13 in the base 1.

14 designates a lever that is pivotally connected at its inner end tothe bottom of the base 1, the outer or handle end of which projectsbeyond the side of the barrel, as shown.

3 designates a tubular standard that rises centrallycfrom and is iixedlyheld upon the base l and whose upper end has external threads 23.

4L designates a circular table provided with a yielding facing 40,preferably of corrugated paper. The table 4 is adjustably mounted ontheupper end of a shank 4-1, the lower Vportion of which has a head 4:2that rides in the hollow standard and engages acoil spring 6 mountedwithin the bottom portion of the standard, as is clearly shown in Fig.6.

5 designates a pendent socket on the bottom of the table a that receivesthe upper end of the shank il to which it is adjustably secured by a setscrew 5() and to provide for a quick adjustment of the table 5 to suitthe different sizes of apples, the shank has a scale 51 that indicatesthe positions for adjusting the table for apples of say, two, three orfour inches in diameter.

Coperating with the standard and the adjustable table 4 is an adjustablestop head 7l on a part of the sleeve 70 that is mounted on the shank 41and provided with external threads 712L for engaging the threadedaperture 80 of a screw cap 8 which fits upon the upper threaded end ofthe tubular standard.

In practice, the operative parts of my invention are so designed thatthe table 4 when adjusted to the desired position acts to support thefacing row of apples so their upper or stem ends are preferably a littlehigher than the upper croze x, it being obvious that this set of thetable is readily provided for facing apples of different diameters bysimply adjusting the table, the downward thrust and the upward thrust ofwhich is limited by the sleeve and head members 7 and 70.

By reason of the adj ustability of the table 4 and its yielding supportpressure enough is brought to bear upon the apples to hold them inposition when the head is put in place.

In the practical construction of my invention, the table 4 is made oneinch less in diameter than the end diameter of the standard size ofbarrels, which allows for a free and easy movement of the barrel overthe table or the table within the barrel, and for the withdrawal of themachine from the barrel when the latter is turned over, and furthermoreby reason of such variance in the diameters of the barrels and the tablemy appliance can be used no matter whether the barrel has contracted orexpanded in its use since the table simply acts as a base or foundationupon which to lay the facing row of apples, the inside of the barrelforming, as it were, the surrounding wall or frame for sustaining theapples in their facing position.

The manner in which my invention is used is best explained as follows:The open ended barrel is set over the t-able 4, the latterbeing thenlocated near the upper end of the barrel and at such point that thefacing of the desired size of apples can be easily made, the barrel, itshould be stated, being securely held by the lever controlled clampdevices on the base member which has hereinbefore been referred to. Theapples are placed upon the table in rings around the inside of thebarrel until a layer of apples is placed, stems up, which forms, as itwere, the face for the barrel. After laying the facing row, the usualcover or lining disk or corrugated paper 40 is put over the apples andthe head is pressed down against the apples, forcing them and the tabledown sufficiently to permit the staves engaging the croze m on that endof the barrel, it being obvious the spring 6 yields as pressure isapplied against the apples. After the head has been placed over theapples, the barrel, with the facing device, is turned over to bring theother end up to allow the facing device to be pulled up out of thebarrel. The barrel is then filled by putting in the other apples on thenow bottom or facing layer in the usual manner, after which the otherhead is put on the barrel.

lVhat I claim is:

l. A means for supporting an open ended barrel, a yielding table for thefacing row of apples, means for removably and adjustably supporting thesaid table near the upper end of the barrel.

2. A means for supporting an open ended barrel, said means including abase member, a rimless yieldingly mounted table for the facing row ofapples supported by said base member, means for removably supporting thetable near the upper end of the barrel.

3. In a fruit packing device, a supporting base to receive the barrel, ahollow standard on the said base to project into the said barrel, ashank yieldingly supported and slidable in the hollow standard, and atable adjustably mounted on the shank.

4. In a fruit packing device, a supporting base to receive the barrel, ahollow standard on the said base to project into the said barrel, ashank yieldingly supported and slidable in the hollow standard, a tableadj ustably mounted on the shank, and a stop for the table adjustablymounted on the standard.

5. In a means for packing fruit within a barrel, a base for receivingthe barrel, a standard on the base for projecting into the barrel, ashank slidable on the standard and a table adjustably mounted on thestandard.

6. In a fruit packing device, a table, and means for yieldingly andadjustably supporting the table inside of the barrel while the operationof the facing is being performed.

BENJAMIN HOLT.

Witnesses LYMAN S. LINsoN, C. I-I. DEAN.

Copies o1' this patent may be obtained for :five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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